Listing machine



H. F. ROBINSON 2,270,898

LISTING MACHINE Filed June l, 1939 2 Shee'ts-Sheet l Jan. 27, 1942.

1 I 11111 ,1 n w .H w Y DM E .Sm l 5g H V Ul A m m W N a m w52 B T Einw:a u S l s Q\ N lh \1/|. n l \\V\ EEE Q@ m fw Q9 QQ @a Jan. 27,. 1942. lH. F. ROBINSON LISTING MACHINE Filed June l, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR AT EY Patented Jan. 27, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICELISTING MACHINE Harry F. Robinson, Cincinnati, Ohio Application June 1,1939, Serial No. 276,862 z claims. (ci. 23a-92) 'I'his invention relatesto a listing machine or registering device such vas is applicable toinstances wherein a great number of order blanks or the like, callingfor odd lots of different items. are to be segregated and accumulated aslarge totals of the various items. Such accumulating .or totaling of thesegregated items is necessary in many different businesses, andespecially in the conduct of mail order and general merchandise salesestablishments, and the like. Heretofore this type of work was performedlaboriously and under conditions conducive to inaccuracies and loss oftime, using inferior methods and means. l

An object of the invention is to simplify and expedite the performanceof the procedure outlined above.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and means for theaccomplishment of the process stated, whereby the operator may be anunskilled worker not required to memorize a key board or to have anyparticular training or skill, thereby enabling progress of the work oftotaling and accumulating by clerks or workers having other duties.

Another object is to increase efciency and to eliminate fatigue in anoperator performing the procedure mentioned, vit being unnecessary forthe operator to spread the order blanks or sheets and the cumulativerecord over a large area requiring the operator to undergov unduestretching and activity, as well as severe eye strain in the performanceof his or her duties.

A further object of the invention is to provide a listing machine of thecharacter mentioned, which is completely automatic and rapid in itsoperation, so that the possibility of error is practically eliminatedwhile at the same time the work of segregating and accumulating the oddlot items is performed at great speed, and with much less effort thanwas heretofore necessary.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means describedherein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view, shown partly in diagrammatic form, disclosinggenerally the device of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view4 of a board or panel equipped with a bank of counters,and disclosing the necessary hook-up for actuating a preferred form ofthe device.

Fig. 3 is a detailed view showing a modification of the device of theinvention.

With reference to Fig. 1, the character 5 indicates a board or panelwhich may properly be referred to as a key board, although rthe blocksor sections thereof that would correspond to keys, are vnot numbered oridentified, and need not therefore be memorized. The various blocks orsections 6 are arranged in vertical and horizontal rows or columns, and,if desired, they may form the entire supporting surface of the keyboard. The board preferably is provided with means, for example pegs orstuds 1, adapted to serve as impaling means for an order blank or likesheet 8, part of which has been broken away in Fig. 1. Like most oilceor order sheets, the sheet 8 has vertical rows and columns marked off inblocks or sections carrying the name of the commodity or item to beordered, and associated with each division of the sheet is a block orspace 9, wherein the salesman or the purchaser may write or otherwiseindicate the number of various items that are to constitute the order.The identifica-4 tion sections for the various items are indicated bythe character I0, and as will be understood, such sections and theirassociated sections 9 may be arranged upon the sheet 8 in any suitablemanner or arrangement. Certain types of office sheets such as 8, andparticularly order blanks, will be found to have the sections 9-I0interspersed with advertising matter, and others may be quite irregularas to their general layout. As will be understood, the device of theinvention can be arranged to accommodate order blanks or office sheets 8of all types, irrespective of their usage or the arrangement of theitems specified thereon. It should accordingly be understood that theterms order blank and order sheet when used herein are not employed in alimiting sense, but rather for the lpurpose of clarity and convenienceof explanation.

From the disclosure of Fig. 1, it will at once be evident that themerchandise divisions of the sheet overlie and coincide with the variousblocks or sections 6 of the keyboard, and in practice this may beaccomplished either by constructing the keyboard to accommodate thesheet, or the sheet may be printed so as to adapt itself to thekeyboard. 'I'he sheet 8'may be perforated as at l2 so as to receiveimpaling means l, thereby ensuring a proper aligned relationship between,the keyboard and the sheet supported thereon.

In the operation of the device, the order blanks or sheets 8 may besuccessively applied to the keyboard, and the operator need only apply astylus or needle I3 tothe sheet within the limits of the variousdivisions I 0 or 9, whereupon the stylus or needle will penetrate thepaper of the sheet and make electrical contact with a section .thestylus is applied thereto.

or segment 8 which underlies the space or division identifying anyselected item 'of merchandise on 'the sheet. Penetration of the sheetmay be made more certain by pitting or otherwise roughening the exposedfaces of the sections or segments as indicated at BI, for purposelymarking` the sheet for. reasons to be explained. Each of the sections orsegments 6 is electrically wired to actuate one or another of a seriesof counters I4 on anaccumulator vboard orpanel which may be situatedeither remotely or adiacenti to @the operators station.I Each of theblocks or sections 8 on key board 5 is thereby associated with a countersuch as I4. Thus, if the 14th division of the order sheet, counting fromtop to bottom, l'

be marked to designate the item, "l`ea,f the lith counter indicated at I40 on the accumulator panel magnet by way of a conductor 3l which iscomlunderstood that any other form of electrical units suitable foractuating a counter, may be substituted for the electromagnets 36. Whenelectro- `magnets are used, the iron cores 31 thereof are fmagnetizedupon each circuit closing operation of thetimer, or interruptor 29,resulting in attracwill be associated with the 14th blockf'orlsection flof the key board, so that application of the k stylus or needle theretowill actuate thatparticular. vcounterior totalizing the number of teaitems :specified on a stack of ordersheets'successively applied tolthepanel 5.- Thus itshould be understoody that -each itemofmerchandiseon the. order blank will Vbefrepresented by a counter on- .v theaccumulator. panel,` which zpanel vmay, be indicated generally by thecharacter vvIll. l Referring howto-Fig. 2, iindicates ,the ac-.cumulator panel which carries the series of -counters I4, and ,aswillbe understood, .only .a

.limited number ofcounters is disclosed due to lack of spaceupon thedrawing sheet. Each counter is'provided with an actuator arm i6 or anequivalent means whereby' the, counter may be advanced numerically onedigit at a time. The particular manner of mounting thecounters upon'the'panels is immaterial to theinvention, there `being shown, however, ashank I1 adapted to be embedded in the material of the board.

In Fig. 2, theblocks or sections 6 are illustrated as metalliccontactorsthrough which an eleotrical circuit may be closed when thepoint I3 of It will readily be understood from the illustration, thatthe line wires or conductors I8 and I9 leading from a suitable source ofelectricity .are connected one to the stylus, and the other to theseries of sections or contacts 6, with certain electrical devicesconnected in circuit as will be explained.

Line Wire I8 has connected thereto a conductor which is electricallyconnected to the stylus point I3, and as is evident, the handle 2Ishould be electrically insulated from the point I3 and the conductor 20.The same line wire I8 is connected by means of a conductor 22, through ay suitable electrical switch 23, to a motor 24 havang an armaturerotating in the direction of the arrow 25. 'I'he return lead from themotor, indicated at 26, is connected at 21 to the other line wire-I9.'Therefore, 'whenever the switch 23 is closed, the motor will beenergized. Upon the motor shaft 28 there is mounted a disc 29 furnishedwith a metallic arcuate segment 30, which is less than a full circle inextent, and said segment is adapted to make contact with the stationaryswitch elements 3I and 32 during a portion of the disc rotation. It willbe understood from the foregoing, that the rotating disc 29 and itssegment 30 constitute a current interruptor or timer, which will permitcurrent to flow from switch element' 3| to switch'element 32intermittently. Accordingly, when the' circuit is closed through thesegment 30, electrical energy may pass from conductor I9, throughsegment 39 and conductor 33, to anr electromagnet34, leaving the tion ofa counter actuating arm I8 toward the magnet-"core,foradvancing thecounter digits in succession, (contacts 6I3 being closed).

The electromagnet 34 together with a separate counter 38 located at'theoperators station,may

properly be referred to as an impulse counteror 'fchecking device, forvisiblyindicating the number of: impulses imparted toany giv ncounter I4.whilethe stylus isfheld continulokfslyfagainst one Aof .the blocks orcontactors 6; vreadily evident by referenceto Figal, .wherein 33vrepresents 'the impulse, .counter orchecking deis maybe more vicelocated within thefview ofthe operator. If the stylus I3 of Fig; lfbeapplied tothe section of `the order sheet` marked Butterfpfor example,

by thevorder sheet, 'willpbe transferred to the corresponding counter ofthe accumulator panel I5 by holding the stylus,upon-'thevcontactorbeneath the "butter" designation, during the period of time required forthe timer 29 of Fig. 2 :to complete'three'l rotations. The timer thenwill impart threeseparate impulsesA to the "butter totalizer on theaccumulator panel. The three impulses will bey registered upon theimpulse counter or checking device, so that the operator will know-thatthe "butter totalizer had been correspondingly advanced. Theimpulse'counter 3l! preferably is a counter which readily may beinstantly normalized to a zero reading, at the will of the operator. Forthe purpose indicated, a

normalizing button 40 is indicated upcn the impulse counter. Counters ofthis general type are old and Well known, wherefore it is deemedunnecessaryto disclose and explain the details thereof. The character 4Iindicates an actuator arm which may be in all respects similar to thearms indicated at I6 on the totalizing counters I4. It will beunderstood that the impulse counter here- Ain disclosed by way ofexample is actuated by reason of the'magnetizable core 42 ofelectroyma`gnet`34 attracting theactuator arm 4I intermittently insynchronism with rotation cf the timer 29. if l By preference, thoughnot of necessity, an

audible signal in the form of a bell or the like 46, and avvisiblesignal 41 inthe form of an electric lamp, may be connectedl across theAconductors 33 and 35, or across the timerr contacts, for audibly andvisibly indicating the number of electric impulses delivered to 4thetotalizing counters while the stylus 'is held stationarily against anycontactor'such as 6. i

At this point in the description, it. may be mentioned that by reason ofthe fact that the stylus point penetrates the order sheet in order tomake contact with any electrically charged segment 6, the 'order 'sheetwill be perforated and thereby marked for thev purpose ofindicati'ng thefact that the operator had observed and. registered the ordered item. Inthose instances in which the order blanks are quite large, it may .bedesirable to furnish means more conveniently accessible than the button40 for normalizing the impulse counter 38, however, such means may beconsidered well within the skill of the mechanic, since a remote controlmay be effected either mechanically by means of links and levers, orelectrically by means of a magnet, solenoid, or the like.

In Fig. 3 is disclosed an alternative form of contactor which might besubstituted for the contactors 6, for the purpose of eliminating theneed for an electrically charged stylus. In accordance with Fig. 3, thestylus 48 may be a pencil or any suitable implement, of insulatingmaterial, by preference. It may be of electrically conductive material,provided that the source of electricity employed in operating the deviceis not of a dangerous character. The character 49 indicates a switchcontact member which may be supported in an elevated position by meansof a spring or the like 50, out of contact with the stationary contactpoint 5l connected electrically to the line wire 52. When the contactor49 is depressed by means of the stylus or other implement 48, anelectric circuit is completed through it to the upper end 53 of abinding post 54, from which latter a conductor 55 conveys electricenergy to the various electromagnets of the totalizing counters asheretofore explained. The impulse counter in Fig. 3 is diagrammaticallyi1- lustrated at 56. It should be noted that the timer 29 of Fig. 2 maybe electrically connected in the circuit of the Fig. 3 modiiication ifdesired. Although the timer is considered a very desirable element inthe combination, the listing or registering device of this inventionwould not be ren dered inoperative by omission of the timer but in thatevent it would be necessary for the operator to apply the stylusintermittently to the order blank yat the prescribed locationsidentiiled by the items printed thereon, in order to actuate thetotalizing counters of the accumulator panel. The omission of the timeror interrupter 29, of course, would render the Work of the operator morelaborious and fatiguing than would be the case when the timer orinterruptor is included in the combination.

In the modification of Fig. 3, the keyboard or panel 5 would preferablybe constructed with an upper board 5l and a lower board 58 spacedtherefrom to furnish an intermediate channel for accommodating theelements 50, 5l, and 53 of the contactor. When the stylus 48 is appliedto the section 49, the section may pivot about the point 59 as itdescends against the resistance of spring 50. The audible and visiblesignals indicated at 46 and 4l of Fig. 2 may be included. in the Fig. 3arrangement as will be well understood.

In constructing the keyboard or panel 5, the contactors made up of thesegments 6 will of course be dimensioned and spaced apart according tothe requirements dictated by the layout of the order sheet. In someinstances, the sections 6 may be replaced with dummy sections where theorder sheets do not carry a designated item, and such dummies will nothave a corresponding totalizer on the accumulator panel I5. It needhardly be stated that the various sections 6 will be electricallyisolated from one another, either by air gaps or by the use of suitableinsulating material interposed between the sections.

It may be observed also that the sections 6 may be reduced in size tocoincide with the smaller divisions of the order blank indicated at 8 onthe panel 5.

In the broadest sense, the present invention resides in the provision ofa sectional panel or board upon which an ordinary order sheet or form isdirectly applied, coupled with means whereby an operator may segregateand accumulate totals of -odd lot items ordered, by applying animplement or a force to the order sheet and the panel or board sectionswhich underlie the item divisions of the order sheet or form. Broadlyconsidered, it is immaterial whether the totalizing counters be actuatedby the electrical means or by purely mechanical means, and the countersmay be of any acceptable type irrespective of their mode of operation.The counters I4 may be arranged on the accumulator board or panelotherwise than in columns 58. and they may be disposed at any desirablelocation with respect to the sectional board or panel 5, either remotelyor locally.

The speed of operation of the interruptor 20 may be varied in anysuitable known manner, such as by regulating the speed of motor 24, inorder to accommodate the apparatus to the operators ability to count theimpulses delivered to the counters. 'Ihe impulses may be quite rapid,but they should occur at such frequencies as will enable the operator tolift the stylus between any predetermined successive impulses. for anaccurate listing or registering of items.

It is to be understood that the particular form of the invention hereinillustrated and described is exemplary only of the invention, and thatvarious modifications and changes in the structural details may be made,within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from thespiritl of the invention.

I claim:-

1. An apparatus of the class described, for operating upon an ordersheet or the like, and comprising in combination: a sectional exteriorand exposed panel of electricity conducting material providing a suportfor an order sheet marked off in divisions and adapted to be superposedon the panel for unrestricted access and visibility by an operator, thesections of the panel being electrically insulated from one another andbeing spaced and dimensioned to correspond with divisions of the sheetwhich specify items of merchandise and quantities thereof, the sectionsof the panels directly underlying the divisions of the order sheet inregistry, counters including electromagnetic operators and correspondingin number to the number of panel sections, -a stylus of electricityconducting material for selective application to any one of the panelsections by penetrating the order sheet, electrical circuits eachincluding an electromagnetic operator for a counter, a panel section,the stylus, and a source of intermittent electrical potential pulsatingat a rate sufficiently slow to enable an operator to count thepulsations, the stylus when used for penetrating the order sheet servingto close an electrical circuit through a selected one of the panelsections and its associated counter corresponding to an order sheetdivision penetrated by the stylus.

2. An apparatus of the class described, comprising in combination: apanel comprising exposed and visible electrically isolated metallicsections in a common plane, providing a support for an oiiice sheet tobe superposed thereon for vunrestri'ct'ei visibiiitytofan operator ofthe ap paratus, saiclfshjeet 'bjeis4v marked oi! in sections Specifying'it'exns bf merchandise and including spaces for receivinz an indicationof quantities of sucli itemaathe sections'ot the Panels vunderlying 'thespaces-of the sheet-in registry therepwith; "a 'series of 'electricalcircuitsall including "a, source uf` pulsating electricity.' a' panelsection, and arxiean's operative for `selectively comselected lpanelsectionsaid means Aincluding: ka stylus 'for manipulation to?electrically-:connect itin one or another oi' saidy circultsby-penetra-`tration oi vthe omcel'sheet to reachf'a-"selected panel ysec'tioma'ndseparate means` associated 'with 'each'of s-aidcircuits'torr'e'gisi'lerlng1the-num ber of pulsations occurring so long as thestylus continuously electrically contacts 'a panel vsectioncorresponding to any given-registerin'gmeans *I Y v wHARRY Fl ROBINSON.4

